• More traditional look than Tioga’sprevious saddlesTioga decided to reinvent the saddle byditching tradition and coming up with aunique style. It’s likely you’ve seen one ofTioga’s ultra-lightweight Spyder saddles,which feature zero padding and a flexiblespiderweb-like design that Tioga believesis far superior to a hardshell that relies ona thin layer of padding for comfort. Tiogaoffers a few different models of Spydersaddles that all share a similar concept;however, Tioga’s latest saddle looks toblend Tioga’s innovative design withtraditional padding. We’d like to introduceyou to the all-new Undercover Stratum.

Tech features: The Undercover Stratum
builds off the Spyder Stratum, a saddle
currently available in Tioga’s lineup. This
new saddle uses a similar Carbonite
Spyder Web base but combines it with
Tioga’s Bio X-pad, which is constructed
from a mid-density foam. These features
provide riders with the same shock-absorption characteristics of Tioga’s
current Spyder saddles while also
offering more comfort due
to added padding. The
Undercover Stratum features
a ThermoForm synthetic
cover that is vacuum-fit
for a seamless finish and
is durable in all weather
conditions. The saddle can
be purchased with a white or
black cover and either carbon
or chromoly rails. The carbon option is

Just like sitting on a web

$200. The chromoly-railed version that we
tested here sells for $120 and tipped our
scale at 200 grams.

Field test results: We mounted the
Undercover Stratum to one of our test
bikes, and after spending some time dialing
in the tilt as well as the fore and aft
position, we were ready to hit the trails.

The Undercover Stratum has a moreinviting look than Tioga’s non-paddedsaddles and measures 140 millimeterswide, which is 5 millimeters wider than theSpyder Stratum. If you push down on theUndercover Stratum with your thumbs, youwill quickly notice this saddle offers a lot offlex, but in a seated position it doesn’t feelunnatural. In fact, our test riders quicklyforgot about the saddle, even after being onit for a few hours. The Undercover Stratumshines during rough, seated climbs, but wewouldn’t say it’s a complete game-changer.

We would, however, say that this saddle is
comfortable and has the ability to absorb
trail chatter while still being stiff enough
to provide pedaling efficiency. If you’re
on the hunt for a new saddle and were
hesitant to try Tioga’s unconventional
design before, we recommend you give
its new Undercover saddle a go. ❏